About the hair...I'm wondering if the not-just-place-but-process mantra applies to the characters as well. Remember that the infant Mr. Spook had long trailing hairs very similar to those of the Beans in this image. These hairs later grew into Hoi Polloi-like plates (unless, like Beanish, he adapted some chips for the purpose!).

What if the Hoi Polloi are not a separate species at all, but just Beans that have moved through x-number of additional evolutionary cycles?

This would make sense in terms of how each character uses chow as well. Pod'l'pool cuties are at first entirely dependent on chow and need to stay continually immersed. Later they can leave the pod'l'pool for short periods, but soon need to return to feed.

Beans no longer require the pod'l'pool, but they still need to absorb chow occasionally. However, they have now acquired the ability to work with Gran'Ma'Pa and the Hoi Polloi to make "chow soup" for themselves.

Hoi Polloi, as far as we know, don't absorb chow. They do, however, still depend on it for intellectual/spiritual nourishment (for them, gambling).

Gran'Ma'Pa produces sprout-butts, which can be turned into chow, but does not appear to need any form of enrichment other than the occasional dose of repro and (possibly) the presence of the Beans...and by extension the Hoi Polloi as well.

Just crazy ramblings from one who got immediately sucked in when Ish 14 was fresh on the shelves... :)